Produce basket



P 1961 I R. M. HARVEY 2,998,908

PRODUCE BASKET Filed June 11, 1959 ,l E L24 I l l l l I I 13 l l l l E INVENTOR.

United States Fatent O 2,998,908 PRODUCE BASKET Robert M. Harvey, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Inland Container Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation Filed June 11, 1959, Ser. No. 819,645 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-24) of the type referred to above are often used in place of double wall baskets since they require less material, are

simple to manufacture and can be fabricated at lower cost. These baskets generally have a single thickness of double face corrugated board forming their side walls and have at least two common disadvantages: (1) staples or stitching are required to assemble the baskets, and (2) they are provided with no satisfactory means allowing attachment or anchoring of a pre-for-med wire bail or handle.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a basket or container of the single wall type which can be formed from a generally rectangular blank with a minimum of scrap, the assembled basket being of such design that: (1) no stitching or staples are required for its assembly, and (2) reinforcing side flaps provide a means for anchoring a wire handle or bail.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a basket of the type referred to in which the reinforcing side flaps extend along the side panels to the base of the basket and are held in place by locking tabs extending into the base panel.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a scored and die-cut blank from which the basket of the present invention is formed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a basket embodying the present invention.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a scored and slotted blank having a generally rectangular configuration and formed of corrugated fibreboard and the like. The blank includes a base panel 10 having an integral side panel *11 at one of its side mar-gins, the panels 10 and 11 being separated by the score line 12. The side margins of the base panel 10 are provided with integrally dimensioned locking apertures or slots 13 and 14. The central, end areas of the base panel are provided with rectangular slots 16 and 17. Marginal flanged strips 18 and 19 are integral with and extend from the side margins of side panel 11 at opposite ends thereof. The score lines 21 and 22; form the junction between the strips 18 and 1-9 and the side panel 11.

Each of the strips 18 and 19 is integral with a further side panel 23 which is dimensioned identically to the side panel 11. The junction between the strips 18 and 19 and the further side panel 23 is defined by the score lines 24 and 26. An end panel 27 is integral with and extends from the inner side margin of the strip 19, the score line 28 defining the junction of the end panel 27 and the strip 19. The free margin of the end panel 27 has extending therefrom a locking tab 29. An end panel 31, identical to panel 27, is integral with and extends from the inner side margin of the strip 18, the score line 32' defining the line of junction between the strip 18 and the end panel 31. The free margin of the panel 31 has extending therefrom a locking tab 33 similar to the tab 29.

A reinforcing side flap 34 extends integrally from the central portion of the side margin of the side panel 11, the area of junction of the side flap 34 and the panel 1 1 being defined by the spaced, parallel score lines 36. An aperture 37 is formed in the area between the score lines 36. The length of the reinforcing side flap 34, defined by its free marginal edge 38, is, slightly greater than the width of the side panel 11 to permit the marginal edge 38 to be inserted in the aperture 14 in base,

panel 10 when the basket is assembled.

A reinforcing side fiap 39 extends integrally from the central portion of the side margin of the side panel 23, the area of junction between the panel 23 and the flap 39 being defined by the parallel score lines 41.. The area between the score lines 41 is provided with an aperture 42. The free marginal edge 43 of the flap 39 is adapted to enter the slot 13 in the base panel 10 when the basket is assembled.

The basket may be assembled or formed as indicated in FIG. 2, by joining the free side margin of the side panel 23 to the free side margin of the base panel 10.

These two elements may be joined by any suitable means but preferably by'a strip of adhesive tape indicated .at 46 in FIG. 2. The end panels 27 and 31 may be folded downwardly along the score lines 28 and 32, respectively, and the locking tabs 29 and 33 inserted into the slots 17 and 16, respectively. The leg' or shank portions 47 and 48 of a bail 49 are formed at their ends to provide transverse hooked portions 47a and 48a. By angularly manipulating the bail, the extending ends of the hooked portions may be inserted through apertures 37 and 42 and the bail subsequent-1y may be raised to upright position placing the oppositely extending section of the hooked portions in their positions of FIG. 2. The configuration of the bail and the required manipulation thereof for moving it into position are described in detail in the Hauck Patent 2,636,663, assigned to the as signee of the present invention. The side flaps 34 and 39 are folded downwardly so as to be disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of the side panels 23 and 11. The marginal area adjacent the terminal ends 38 and 43 of the flaps 34 and 39 are forced into the slots 14 and 13, respectively, to thereby lock the flaps in position.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the entire basket, except for the wire bail, may be formed from a unitary blank with a minimum of scrap. The side flaps 34 and 39 serve as side panel reinforcements and their area of junction with the adjacent side panels provides a means for anchoring the ends of the bail. The flanged strips 18 and 19, since they are integral with the side panels 11 and 23, provide transverse reinforcement of the basket. It should further be notedthat the construction herein described provides the economy features of a single wall basket cut from a single, generally rectangular blank with a minimum of scrap, requires no stitching or staples for itsassembly and provides a means for securely anchoring a wire bail or handle.

While the invention has been disclosed and described l. A bail-handled basket comprising a base panel having an integral side panel at one of its side margins and a slot adjacent each of its end margins, said base panel having locking apertures adjacent each of its side margins, marginal flange strips integral with and extending from the side margins of said side panel at opposite ends thereof, each of said strips being integral with a further side panel, an end panel integral with and extending from the inner side margin of each of said strips andhaving locking tabs at their free ends, reinforcing side flaps integral with and extending from the central portion of the opposite side margins of said side panels, said basket being formedby joining the-free side margin ofsaid further sidepanel to the free side margin of said base panel and disposing said endpanels so that their free margin engages the inner face of said base panel with their locking tabs received in said slotsin said base panel, said reinforcing side flaps being folded inwardly to overlie the inner surface of said side panels with their freeends engaged in said locking apertures in said base panel, the area of juncture of said side flaps and said side panels being apertured, and a wire bail having itsend portions extending through said apertures and provided with portions engaging the underside of the area of junction of'said side flaps and said panels, where by said side flaps serve both as reinforcing members and a bail-anchoring means.

2. A basket comprising a base panel having an integral side panel at one of its-side margins and a slot adjacent each of itsend margins, said base panel further having locking; apertures adjacent each of its side margins, marginal flange strips integral with and extending from the side margins of said side panel at opposite ends thereof, each of said strips being integral with a further side panel, an endpanel integral with and extending from the inner side margin of each of said strips and having locking tabs at their free ends, reinforcing side flaps integral with and extending from the central portion of the opposite side margins of said side panels, said basket being formed by joining-the free side margin of said further side panel to the free side margin of said base panel and disposing said end panels so that their margin engages the inner face of said base panel with their locking tabs received in slots in said base panel, said reinforcing side flaps being folded inwardly to overlie the inner. surface of said side panels with their free ends engaged in said locking apertures in. said base panel, the junction of said side flaps with their adjacent side panels providing a bail-anchoring surface.

3. A basket comprising a base panel having an integral side panel. at one of its side margins, marginal flange strips integral with and extending from the side margins of said side panel at opposite ends thereof, each of said strips being integral with a further side panel, anend panel integral with and extending from the inner side margin of each of said strips, reinforcing side flaps integral with and extending from the central portion of the opposite side margins of said side panels, said basket being formed by joining the free side margin of said further side panel to the free side margin of said base panel and disposing said end panels so that their free margin engages the inner face of said base panel, said reinforcing side flaps being folded inwardly to overlie the inner surface of said side panels, the junction of said side flaps withtheir adjacent side panels providing a bailanchoring surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Crane Sept. 8, 1959 

